AFRL/RX Functional Materials Open BAA

The Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate is soliciting white papers and full proposals under Broad Agency Announcement FA8650-22-S-5002 to develop innovative functional materials. The program focuses on the entire technology lifecycle, from scientific discovery and characterization to the development of prototypes and transition into warfighting capabilities. Key technical areas of interest include photonic materials, specifically optical materials and processes to enhance electromagnetic capabilities and hardened materials and processing. The solicitation follows a two-step process where selected white paper submitters are invited to provide full technical and cost proposals. The anticipated total program funding has been increased to approximately 500 million dollars, with individual awards potentially reaching 75 million dollars. Most awards are expected to be Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts with a period of performance ranging from 12 to 72 months. Evaluation is based on a peer or scientific review focusing on technical innovation, transition potential, and cost realism. Due to the sensitive nature of the research, contractors must adhere to strict security requirements, including a Secret level of safeguarding for classified information, compliance with NIST SP 800-171 for cybersecurity, and rigorous security risk reviews for key personnel to mitigate foreign influence. Submissions must follow specific formatting guidelines, including a 21-page limit for technical proposals and the use of quad charts for synopses. All offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management and provide comprehensive representations and certifications. Deliverables include scientific and technical reports delivered in editable formats, and any hardware prototypes exceeding 5,000 dollars in cost must include Unique Item Identifiers. The current submission deadline for white papers is October 26, 2028.